Im rewiring my pick guard and i was wondering if you could subistute the alinco v pickups on a highway one with the SCN pickups and add a s-1 switching system as well

Highway ones have Alnico 3s. Yes you can, pretty much all strat electronics are interchangeable if you know how to solder and follow a wiring diagram.

What do you think sounds better the alinco 3 or the scn

SCN or (stock) Alnico 3? Good question. And the answer is all about your personal taste.

I found the stock Alnico 3s on my Highway to be quite 'spikey'. Plenty of initial bite but quickly resolving to a dull uninspiring tone after the attack phase of the note.

I changed to a set of SCNs (standard issue in Deluxe Strats) and they were completely different. Slightly less bite but with a good round tone after the attack. They were also (as advertised on the tin) completetly noise free - spookily so. BUT, I didn't like them. Underpowered (considering their output rating) and pretty bland. It's a static sound with non of that sense of tonal movement through the note. Very hi fidelity - no character. So I removed those pickups too.

My Highway now currently has a full set of Seymour Duncan flat pole Alnico 2 pro single coils, and I'm a lot happier. Plenty of tonal movement, slightly hot vintage power output and the p/ups are equally at home clean or with overdrive.

So that's my experience. But I know there are peole who really rate the stock Alnico 3s and who really rate the SCNs. I guess the truth with pickup swaps is that you can chase your tail forever and spend a hell of a lot of money in the process..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

Adey

I'm considering some duncan alnico2's to go in one of my guitars with SCN's in it now. I have to agree with you. SCN's are great with some gain on them but a little bland clean.

So which dunc's did you use. I've been considering some SSL's.

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Hi Niki.

I used Seymour Duncan Alnico 2 pro flat poles (sometimes called APS1 I think) but the box is marked "Alnico 2 Pro for Strat" I have tried an SSL1 in the neck position of another Strat, and it was quite nice - but a bit too vintage for me. I used to put SSL3s (immensely powerfull!) in Strat bridge positions, but they're very dark sounding. I dont do that now. The Alnico 2 Pro comes in flat or staggered pole.

I'm in Bham if you ever get up/down that way. You'd be welcome to take my Highway with its Alnico 2 Pro p/ups for a spin if you want to try them out..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

Adey I'm a brum lad myself. Sadly living off in the sticks of lincolnshire now.

Have you ever been to that blues club with the big poster of Robert Johnson outside, on the Redditch road, just between Cotteridge and Kings Norton?

I'm heading down that way to see my mum in Redditch soon.

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Just FYI: The SCNs use fancy named, ceramic magnets.

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Yeah but Martian ceramic's shmamicks is pretty much my opinion. A magnet in itself isnt the whole pickup and as you know isnt the only component in a pickups sound. Now I'd not presume to try and contradict you in this area. It would be nothing but a easy way to make myself look stupid. But you must surely admit a guitar pickup's sound is dependant on the sum of its circuitry. Not just the magnet. I'd have to side with Bill Lawrences opinion that ceramic bar magnets are used purely as a cost cutting measure. Ceramic slug's cost more to produce than Alnico slug's, ceramic bars are a lot cheaper. Thats why ceramic pickups sound bad, its not inherent to just the magnet type.

I for one cant understand for the life of me why flatwork material matters.

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I'm not taking sides here with the whole ceramic vs. alnico thing as both surely have their place, distinct advantages and disadvantages. I'm merely pointing out that ceramic is yet, another variation on strength and tonality as far as a pickup is concerned and before someone starts with the whole ceramic vs. alnico debate (ad-nausem, of course), as a 'service' I'm simply letting it be known what a SC magnet in fact, is.

Metallic flatwork matters as it affects the magnetic field and tonality of the pickup. Non-metallic aspects in terms of shape, height, etc, dictate the coil dimensions which also will affect the magnetic field and tonality of the pickup.

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Ah mate I'm not trying to start any mega-argument here, just pick your brains and better myself a bit.

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No problems!

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LOL.. Yes, thats the blues/roots/acoustic place - been there once or twice. It's OK. Very small. Fanatical about their live music though, so fair play. The good thing is I only live 5mins from there so it's handy. I really must go more often.

Shout up if you're down my way - I've enjoyed your posts immensely. Very informative.

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!